Marin Readers' Forum for May 14

The world has changed under our own eyes and we refuse to recognize it. It is not that young city planners learn at grad school that suburbs are to be despised and urban communities are good, as Dick Spotswood mentions in his May 12 column.

The issue is that young city planners, like their counterparts 20-35 years old, don't have a place to call their own in communities like Marin.

When I observe Marin County, I see "young parents" pushing strollers are in their late 30s to early 40s.

They are our "young adults".

The 20-35-year-olds do not live among us because we don't have the right environment for them to thrive: Affordable housing, a network of public transit, cafes and vibrant areas where to meet their own generation.

These young people have chosen a different lifestyle than ours: they don't own cars, they use transit, they gather in public areas, they live in small spaces, connected and informed on what is coming up tomorrow.

We, on the other hand, want to live as we always have.

Therefore, we're pushing our young away from our communities. When we offer them the spare room in our homes, above the garage, or the pool house, we are undermining their self-esteem.

This young generation likes to live close to their families but they want to make it on their own.

Let's allow for new areas in Marin where our young can become their own by their own means.

Imagine how proud we would be.

Elida Doldan-Schujman, architect, Mill Valley

Worried about planning

I would find it laughable, if it didn't have so much potential for disaster, that the Marin Board of Supervisors would consider all those affordable housing units in Marinwood, over the objection of hundreds (possibly thousands) of people living there.

But, on the other hand, the board made it so impossible for George Lucas to build a complex that would have been pleasing to the eye, bring jobs to Marin, and pay taxes to our county, except for the will of a very few in Lucas Valley.

Will there be as many hold ups in this development as there were for George Lucas?

How many years did that take?

Joanne Gotelli, San Rafael

New ferry parking needed

It's really too bad, but unfortunately not a surprise, that the Golden Gate Bridge District committee is far off.

I am very happy to hear the Larkspur ferry service is well perceived and growing.

But the way the committee is planning to deal with it is unfortunate and frustrating.

People are not going to want to add another 15 minutes to their commute to hop on a shuttle. It just doesn't make sense to cut 15 minutes off the ferry ride, only to add it back on for a shuttle service.

The only effective way with a long-term view is to build up: to build a second (or even third) level above the existing parking lot. And to cover all with solar panels.

Then to use money made from selling energy back to cover some of the building cost and to keep the parking fee low.

This will attract customers. It's all about convenience.

Also, buy smaller boats for more frequent service at night and on weekends and people will come.